The warm temperatures and sunny skies of summer inspire trips to the beach, backyard BBQs, outdoor sporting events, concerts, festivals, dinner parties, and just an overall desire to socialize and enjoy the weather. Closely associated and culturally expected beverages at such events are alcohol and caffeine, whether it be beer, cocktails, and wine, or coffee, energy drinks, or tea. While a beer or latte here and there will not hurt, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), regular or excessive consumption of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages in the summer heat can cause more damage than just intoxication and jitters.

The TCM perspective is that consuming considerable amounts of alcohol, a yang substance, can create an excess in both heat and dampness, or a deficiency in the liver and spleen. Alcohol is a diuretic, which causes the elimination of water, and in TCM, when water is removed from the body, fire is left, causing heat. Alcohol raises the heart rate, increases circulation, and creates feelings of warmth in the body. This depletes the liver, causing symptoms like sweating, a flushed complexion, inflammation, loose stools, or dark urination.

When alcohol causes dampness, it is due to there being more fluid in the body than necessary, creating a swamp-like state in the digestive system. Overwhelming the spleen like this causes symptoms of fullness, bloating, excess gas, a heaviness in the body and limbs, fatigue, and a thirst without the desire to drink. So even when you’re thirsty from the heat, you have no desire to rehydrate with water due to the buildup of fluids in your system.

Like alcohol, caffeine is another ingredient to limit, especially in the heat of summer. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic, causing fluids to be removed from the body. High temperatures cause excessive sweating, so combined with the effect caffeine is having on the body, essential fluids are being expelled, causing dehydration. Caffeine consumption also harms the flow of Qi in the body by disrupting the body’s ability to maintain peak energy throughout the day. Associated with yang energy, caffeine can cause an imbalance for those who are yin deficient; because caffeine has warming and drying effects on the body, this type of yin/yang imbalance can cause symptoms like insomnia, irritability, anxiety, and high blood pressure.

The best liquid to consume to stay hydrated in the summer is water. It will nourish you from the inside out, and is able to tell what internal fluids are essential and which are not, therefore removing them via urine. Water can help balance yin and yang energies in the body, correcting any imbalances that occur from over indulgence. Along with water, there are many alcohol and caffeine drink alternatives that can aid hydration as well as provide other nutrients while being refreshing and delicious.

Drinks and Recipes

Kin Euphorics:

Kin Euphorics is a woman-founded and owned company that specializes in non-alcoholic, functional beverages made with ingredients to nourish your body and mind. Adaptogens help manage stress, nootropics support brain cognition, and botanicals enhance taste. Combining these special ingredients into delicious, refreshing, and exciting non-alcoholic beverages can help keep you hydrated in the summer while also nourishing your mind and body.

Recipe: Kin Julep

Ingredients:

¼ oz warmed honey
5-10 fresh mint leaves
2oz Kin Dream Light
2 oz ginger beer
Fresh mint sprig for garnish

To Make:

In a julep cup or rock glass, lightly muddle the mint and honey. Add the Kin Dream Light and ginger beer and pack tightly with crushed ice. Stir until the cup is frosted on the outside. Top with more crushed ice to form an ice dome and garnish with a mint spring.

Ghia:

Ghia is a spirit free aperitif inspired by the Mediterranean summer tradition of sharing limoncello with loved ones after a nice meal. For the founder, Melanie, drinking is about connecting, laughing, letting loose, and just enjoying the simple pleasures of great music and warm nights. She wanted to make a drink that encouraged all those positives, without the negatives like hangovers or dehydration.

Recipe: The Hi Life

Ingredients:

2.5 oz Ghia aperitif
1 oz tonic
Crushed rose petal
Fresh sage leaf

To Make:

Pour 2.5 oz Ghia into a shaker. Add ice and shake. Add 1 oz tonic and strain into a chilled coupe or glass. Garnish with crushed rose petals and fresh sage leaf.

HoneyBee Sage:

HoneyBee Sage is a non-alcoholic bar and apothecary located on MLK Drive in Milwaukee, WI. They offer tisanes, herbal teas that are caffeine free and medicinal, as well as alcohol free cocktails and herb-infused beverages. You can order a tisane based on the relief or support you need, like respiratory, menstrual, digestive, antioxidant, detoxification, mood, headache, inflammation, or energy. Using various types of water, they can custom infuse your beverage with any combination of their specialty crafted herbal glycerites for a delicious and elevating experience.

Curious Elixirs:

These alcohol-free pre-mixed cocktails are infused with adaptogens to encourage relaxation, and were created with the sober and those who are less interested in alcohol in mind. Organic juices, herbs, spices, roots, barks, and botanicals are used to nourish the body and mind, as well as increase serotonin and dopamine.

Athletic Brewing:

Athletic Brewing is a certified B-Corp company that brews non-alcoholic beers. Their brewing process results in less than 0.5% alcohol, which is about the same percentage as commercially made kombucha. They have a non-alcoholic version of crowd favorites like various hazy ipas, goldens, witbiers, sours, and more.

Other Drink Replacements

Kombucha:

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink started from a scoby, which stands for a symbiotic combination of bacteria and yeast. According to TCM, kombucha strengthens the immune system, has tons of probiotics that provide oxygen to the body, and is a natural detoxifier. While alcohol and caffeine move energy upwards in the body, causing heat, kombucha draws energy inwards and down, cooling the body. Kombucha on a hot summer day can provide nutrients and cool the body.

Rishi Botanicals - Milwaukee, WI

Juiced! Cold Press Juices - Milwaukee, WI

Tapuat Kombucha - Sister Bay, WI

References

Alcohol and Traditional Chinese Medicine - Chicago

Non-Alcoholic Mint Julep Cocktail Recipe | Kin Euphorics

Recipes – Ghia

Cocktails – Curious Elixirs

Does Athletic Brewing’s Non-Alcoholic Beer *Actually* Taste Good? [2023 Review]

All Non-Alcoholic Beer | Athletic Brewing Co.

Do Curious Elixirs Hit The Spot For The Sober Curious? We Review - The Good Trade

How to Treat Addiction With Acupuncture and TCM.